Community Center Tour/Youth group

3/27

This morning we toured the Northwest Community Center, a place where refugees can come and receive help and also be introduced to Christ. We heard a powerful testimony from a man who came to Christ in a refugee camp in Africa, and is now in the States helping other refugees and sharing Christ with them. We then went to lunch at a Vietnamese bistro and after went through the Hong Kong market. We spent a little time alone with the Lord reflecting on the trip, went around the neighborhood distributing invitations to kids ministry, and then attended Wednesday evening youth group at the Northwest Community Center where we got to meet many youth from different places around the world. They got to play games and hear a message about the Lord. It was a blessed day!

Touring Northwest Community Center

Touring Northwest Community Center

Northwest Community Center

Outside Bistro B, our lunch stop

At the Hong Kong market

The boys having fun at the Hong Kong market ;)

Hong Kong Market

Neighborhood friends

Handing out invitations

Handing out invitations

Amber reconnecting with a gal at youth group

Youth group

Youth group

Northwest Community Center

From Oz:
It was exciting to go to the NorthWest Community Center in Dallas, Texas to find out this is the place (center) where the refugees can request assistance for subsistence. The Community Center offers help  in many areas for the refugees such as teaching ESL (English As A Second Language), skills from, typing, computer familiarization, sewing, job readiness and resource distribution from diapers, wipes, clothing, and to include medical services, etc. There are also other programs for children such as after school care, kids club and youth programs. The NorthWest Community center invites the people from the community to join their team and take advantage of the programs and services. Yet, one of the most impacting encounters I had at the center happened when I met Jean who is a refugee from Burundi, Africa. He has had a tough life since he was a kid back in his own country. As a result of the political controversies and persecution, he has seen the face of death many times. Fortunately, his faith in the Lord has been strong to overcome any hard situations. In addition, he had the opportunity
to come to the United States and start a new life in Dallas Texas. This is the place where he has grown in his faith and continues to serve the Lord by helping the people with needs since he remembers what is like to be a refugee. Now, he works in the NorthWest Community Center and he is a testimony of his will and faith in the Lord to succeed in life.
 

Oz

From McCaila:

This trip has been a life changing time for me. Not only today’s activities, but all that we have done this week has changed the way I think about life and this world. The reality of lost people hurts my heart, but there is so much hope too. This week I’ve seen how much sorrow and happiness can go together even when they seem like they should be separate from each other. The people we have come in contact with have so many hardships yet their joy in the small things is evident. In our team, we have shared our pain and then had times of laughter that follow. We’ve had so much fun and some really good conversations. I’ve learned things about my team members and seen new sides of their personalities which is a real privilege. Yesterday, Diana and I had the chance to converse with a Muslim woman about Christianity in a Mosque. I never thought in a million years that it would be a possibility to do that! When she was asking questions about our faith I was able to share (by God giving me the words and the remembrance!) Romans 10:9 which says “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” I think it was hard for her to grasp the concept of how easy it is to just accept God’s free gift to us. It was a great conversation, and I was so blessed to be able to share that moment with my best friend. I have learned so much on this trip about myself, God, and people. I can see God calling me to missions in the future, most likely as a nurse and I am excited about that prospect.

McCaila